The CBS Fall Schedule: My Take

Now that I've had a while to think through the new CBS fall schedule, I have some thoughts on which news is good, which is bad and which is still a little baffling. Take a spin through my list, then let me know what you think. (Don't forget to look at my thoughts on the ABC and NBC schedules, too!)

Could this be the year I actually watch CBS? (Sign No. 2 of the apocalypse, right up there with Friday TV being good.) I've rarely gotten hooked on a CBS show, and a lot of you say it's your least-watched network too. And yet, I'm finding myself excited about a couple of the shows they announced this morning, specifically "Viva Laughlin" (at right) and "Swingtown."

Speaking of "Viva Laughlin," I think it has an equal chance of being a disaster and of being completely brilliant. It's based on the BBC series "Viva Blackpool," which I've never seen, but YouTube has some clips. Anyone here seen it? What do you think?

A point raised by Phil: Will "Shark" being on Sunday nights hurt "Brothers & Sisters" on ABC? I've never seen "Shark," but I hear good things about it. Could their audiences overlap?

A few more thoughts, so read more

Regarding "Swingtown," I think the show sounds a little edgy for the network's typical baby boomer audience — and that's exactly why I like it. It sounds a little like a TV version of The Ice Storm, and it's got "Six Feet Under" producer Alan Poul behind it.

On the other hand, "The Big Bang Theory" sounds pretty bad — and honestly, I haven't found a comedy yet this week that sounds amazing (besides, possibly, NBC's "The IT Crowd"). I wonder, though, if comedies just don't translate well on paper, because so much has to do with the writing and the acting and the actual jokes.

I haven't watched much "How I Met Your Mother," but all of your comments in support of the show have convinced me to give it a try. I know what DVD set I'll be renting this summer!

I do look a lot CBS, but because I live in Mexico, in the border, I get only 2 channels in english, CBS and NBC, but I only watch 3 shows in NBC (HEROES, the office, and my name is Earl)
But I love how I met your mother, NCIS, ghost whisperer and Jericho. So I am going to see what CBS got new for me this summer.

I think The Big Bang theory has the potential to be great or it could be HORRIBLE. But I'm a sucker for nerdy guys and I loved Jim Parsons in Garden State and have recently been watching reruns of Judging Amy so he is fresh in my mind. Glad they kept How I Met Your Mother, I don't think I would be the same with out Barney on Monday nights!!

Friday nights really do look good this Fall season; I may stay in, too. In the battle between Shark and Brothers and Sisters, my bets are on the siblings coming out on top. I have seen Viva Blackpool and have mixed feelings about it; at first, I hated it, but once I got into the rhythm (no pun intended!) of the show, it grew on me. I have mixed feelings about the success of Viva Laughlin' its appeal may be limited. Hope you enjoy watching How I Met Your Mother, Buzz. It really is a great show!